SLU Football Set to Open Spring Practice

Southeastern Louisiana University football team begins preparations for 2026 season

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The Southeastern Louisiana University football team will open spring practice on Tuesday, February 24th at Strawberry Stadium. The Lions, coming off a 9-4 season and fourth trip to the NCAA FCS playoffs in the past seven years, will practice on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays through March 28th's Super Lion Saturday.

Why it matters

Spring practice is an important time for the Lions to evaluate their roster, develop new leaders, and prepare for the upcoming 2026 season. With several coaching changes, including a new offensive coordinator, the spring sessions will be crucial for the team to get acclimated to the new staff and schemes.

The details

The Lions will practice at 3:40 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and at 10 a.m. on Saturdays. The only deviation from the schedule will be this week, as Thursday's practice will be moved to Friday at 10 a.m. due to the LHSAA State Soccer Championships being held at Strawberry Stadium. Ninth-year head coach Frank Scelfo is excited to see his team back on the field and is eager to see how the team's leadership will evolve.

  • The Southeastern Louisiana University football team will open spring practice on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
  • Spring practice will run through Saturday, March 28, 2026, with the final session being the 'Super Lion Saturday' event.

The players

Frank Scelfo

Ninth-year head coach of the Southeastern Louisiana University football team, and a two-time Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

Matt Bergeron

The new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Southeastern Louisiana University, previously spent eight seasons at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Ryan Allgood

The new offensive line coach and run game coordinator for Southeastern Louisiana University, with previous coaching experience in the Southland Conference.

Ed Groth

The new special teams coordinator for Southeastern Louisiana University, returning to the program after spending the 2025 season at Post University.

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What they’re saying

“We're really anxious to see how the leadership's going to evolve. Who is going to fill the shoes of the leaders we lost from last season's team? We've seen that be answered during the off-season program, but we're anxious to see it continue to develop through spring practice.”

— Frank Scelfo, Head Coach (an17.com)

“Matt has recruited south Louisiana and is well-respected. He's worked for some great head coaches and he's been parts of staffs that just simply win games. He's innovative and creative, while also developing great relationships with the student-athlete he coaches. Matt simply had everything we were looking for in an offensive coordinator.”

— Frank Scelfo, Head Coach (an17.com)

“Ryan's been in the Southland and when he was at McNeese they led the league in rushing. We want to be able to run the football. A huge reason we're 13-2 in the SLC the last two years is our ability to run the ball when we needed to, control the clock and keep our defense fresh. Ryan brings a wealth of knowledge to our rushing attack.”

— Frank Scelfo, Head Coach (an17.com)

What’s next

The Lions will continue spring practice through March 28th, culminating in the 'Super Lion Saturday' event. The team will then turn its focus to preparing for the 2026 season opener on August 27th, when they host HCU at Strawberry Stadium.

The takeaway

Southeastern Louisiana University's football program is poised for another successful season, building on its recent playoff appearances and strong Southland Conference record. The coaching changes and spring practice will be crucial in developing the team's new leaders and preparing the Lions for the challenges ahead.